Ship captain denies falling asleep before fatal crash near the Humber Estuary
Russian Vladimir Motin has denied manslaughter
A ship captain has denied falling asleep or leaving his post before a fatal crash with an oil tanker in British waters.
Russian Vladimir Motin, 59, was on sole watch duty when the Solong collided with the anchored Stena Immaculate near the Humber Estuary last March, causing the death of Mark Angelo Pernia, 38.
Giving evidence on Monday, Motin said he first became aware of the Stena Immaculate from between 10 and 12 nautical miles away.
Defence barrister James Leonard KC asked: "Did you fall asleep at any stage?"
Motin denied this.
Mr Leonard asked: "Did you leave the bridge to go to the loo, have a comfort break?"
Motin replied: "I never left the bridge at the material time from 8am."
The defendant told jurors he had two visitors to the bridge that morning, the ship engineer and chief cook, but neither were picked up on audio recordings.
Mr Pernia was engaged in helping the chief engineer with some repairs that day and was also the designated "lookout", jurors heard.
Motin said the crew member was not required as lookout as visibility never dropped to two nautical miles.
Previously, Motin has told jurors that he had already done several trips from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in Holland when the tragedy struck, the court heard.
Motin, from Primorsky, St Petersburg, has denied manslaughter and the Old Bailey trial continues.